Enoshima Facts for Kids

"Enoshima in Sagami Province" by Hokusai, circa 1830

Enoshima (江の島) is a small island in Sagami Bay on the Pacific Coast of the Japanese island of Honshu. It is part of Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Enoshima has an area of about 0.2 km². It is linked to the mainland by a bridge.

The island is at the mouth of the Katase River.

In 1927, Enoshima was recognized as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan which best showed Japan and its culture in the Shōwa period.

History

1047 (Eishō 2): Enoshima Engi was written by the Buddhist monk Kōkei. The work is a history of the shrines on the island.
1182 (Juei 1): Minamoto no Toritomo gave a statue to the Benzaiten shrine on the island.
1325 (Shōchū 2): Shōjōkō-ji was established. It is the Buddhist temple on the island.
1874 (Meiji 7): Samuel Cocking developed botanical gardens.
1964 (Shōwa 39): Sailing competitions during the 1964 Summer Olympics were scheduled near the island.

Panoramic view of Enoshima Island with bridge connecting it to Katase

Enoshima
Enoshima yacht harbor
Aerial photograph - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and National Transport, Land Image Information (1988)
Looking towards Fujisawa from Enoshima Lighthouse
Viewed from Miura Peninsula.
Enoshima Shrine
Iwaya Caves
Pilgrimage to the Cave Shrine of Benzaiten by Hiroshige Ando (c. 1850)
Enoshima by Yuichi Takahashi. Between 1876 and 77.
Photograph by Kimbei Kusakabe. 1890s.
Lucky Gods' visit to Enoshima (1869)
The Seven Ri Beach